Fox's A Christmas Story: Live Musical Finds Its Ralphie

After a nationwide digital casting call, 11-year-old Andy Walken, from Seattle, WA, has been cast in the role of "Ralphie Parker," the lead character in A Christmas Story: Live, airing Sunday, Dec. 17 (7:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on Fox. More than 350 applicants were considered for the role of "Ralphie," a boy whose only dream is to get a Red Ryder Range Model Carbine Action BB Gun for Christmas. Fox has also released a brief video introducing fans to the young actor, which shows the exact moment when he found out he won the coveted role of Ralphie Parker in Fox's live musical event.

Fox announced a nationwide casting call for the role of Ralphie in August, with the network seeking candidates, ages 9-12, who should express strong singing and dancing capabilities and be able to anchor the live three-hour production. As part of the audition, the candidates were required to submit a video performing the original songs "Red Ryder BB Gun" and "Before the Old Man. Walken joins previously announced cast members Emmy Award nominee Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live, Bridesmaids), who will star as Ralphie's mother, and two-time Tony Award winner Matthew Broderick (How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, The Producers, Manchester by the Sea), who will star as the narrator, who looks back with love and humor on his favorite childhood Christmas.

From Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television, A Christmas Story: Live is inspired by the holiday classic feature A Christmas Story and the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production A Christmas Story: The Musical. The epic adaptation will be filmed at the historic Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank. A Christmas Story: The Musical was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. The original Broadway production of A Christmas Story: The Musical opened Nov. 19, 2012. Based on the writings of Jean Shepherd, the book was written by Joseph Robinette, with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

The musical was based on the motion picture A Christmas Story, written by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark, and the novel "In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash" by Jean Shepherd. The now-classic 1983 feature film, which became a sleeper hit, has since taken on a new life, along with growing critical acclaim, to become a perennial holiday favorite beloved by families and kids of all ages. A Christmas Story: Live will be produced by Warner Horizon Unscripted & Alternative Television. Marc Platt (Grease: Live, La La Land, Wicked) and Adam Siegel (Grease: Live) will executive-produce, with Jonathan Tolins and Robert Cary (Grease: Live, Anything but Love, Ira & Abby) serving as co-executive producers and writers.

Scott Ellis (the 2016 Broadway revival of She Loves Me, Weeds) is an executive producer and will serve as the director overseeing the stage direction. Alex Rudzinski (Grease: Live, Dancing with the Stars) is an executive producer and will serve as the live television director. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dear Evan Hansen, La La Land), who composed the original score to A Christmas Story: The Musical, will compose several new songs for the live television event. Take a look at a new video that shows how Andy Walken landed the role of Ralphie after a nationwide casting call, courtesy of Fox YouTube.